YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Have you ever been to an out of town wedding and thought something big was missing? Here in the Mahoning valley when you go to a wedding you expect and nice big cookie table. In today's cover story, Matt Stone takes a look into the history and tradition of the cookie table and even some suggestions on what makes the perfect cookie table in 2025.

Never mind the Cleveland vs, Pittsburgh rivalry, when it comes to the beginnings of the wedding cookie table, it's a Youngstown vs. Pittsburgh thing. It started around the turn of the 20th century

"We're seeing it in the Italian cultures, Eastern European cultures but a lot of immigrants coming here to the valley. It pops up around Youngstown around Pittsburgh. Those cities lay their claim to having the first cookie table," said Traci Manning from the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

These large immigrant families would get together to celebrate but they couldn't always afford an extravagant wedding reception. So they helped each other.

"It was hard times and they didn't have money for wedding cake," said Linda Sproul, creator of the Facebook "Youngstown Cookie Table" group.

"Sugar was really expensive to make one large cake. So instead of one family paying for that it was easier to have one family bring a couple dozen cookies and another bring a couple dozen cookies and kind of spread that cost out a little bit," added Manning.

Well, over a hundred years later, having a cookie table at a local wedding is a must. Usually the bride's family gets everyone to start baking weeks ahead of time. Nowadays, it isn't just got enough to have cookies at the reception, you need enough for people to take home.

"Typically there's the old story of people just pulling the zip lock bag out of their purse and just grabbing cookies and taking them home. So there's the expectation you eat and the event and take a couple home," Said Manning.

Linda Sproul made a Facebook group in 2010 for people who share their love of tradition and cookies.

"It's just taken off. Last I checked I got like 45,000 members or something like that," said Sproul.

On that site you can share ideas for table set ups and of course, cookie recipes.

"It's truly recommended to have 10 cookies per person and people have take home bags and take out boxes and it's really quite the production these days."

The must have's for cookie tables? cloths pins and buckeyes. Make sure the cookies are on the smaller side, no one wants a huge one because most people just want a bite or two of a different flavor. And is there anything people should not make?

"Personally I'd say anything with raisins but I don't think there's a bad cookie. There's a cookie for everyone! said Sproul.

Chances are, there will be something at the cookie table people will love. That's why this Youngstown tradition will never end.

"What do you have to have to have a perfect cookie table is a lot of love and a lot of heart for keeping the tradition going!" said Sproul.